Punctuation Flashcards
What’s punctuation
It is a set of symbols and marks which are used to clarify the meaning in text by separating strings of words int clauses, phrases and clauses
What do punctuations do
*Tells readers how words are grouped together and how they’re separated
*Primarily determined by sentence structure
*Helps readers understand what writer’s are trying to convey
*Different punctuations for the same set of words gives different meanings.
Types of punctuation marks
- comma ( ,)
- Full stop (.)
- Semi colon (;)
- Colon (:)
- Interrogation mark (?)
- Exclamation mark (!)
- Quotation mark (“ “ or ‘’)
Those are the most common ones among many others
Full stop (.) and it’s uses
👉🏾It marks the longest pause in speeches
👉🏾Uses
* Applied at the end of every declarative or imperative sentence.
* After abbreviations and initials of names, titles and degrees
* To separate hours and minutes in written figures
* To separate between the units of money. E.g naira and kobo
Comma (,) and it’s uses
👉🏾 It marks a brief pause in a sentence
👉🏾 Uses
* To separate three or more words that are of the same parts of speech
* To mark off phrases in apposition ( i.e phrases such that the proceeding one explain the proceeding one)
* Used to mark off the vocative(name) in a direct address e.g Olu, let’s discuss our presentation now
*separate words/phrase/clauses inserted into the body of a sentence. The inserted item will have a comma before and after it.
* To avoid the repetition of a verb. E.g Omololu works as a teacher and Tom, as a nurse.
* Used to separate co-ordinate in a compound sentence. E.g I came, I saw, I conquered.
* To mark off the clause or phrase introducing a quotation.
* To mark off parenthetical phrases (a group of words that provides additional information, but can be removed from a sentence without changing its basic meaning. It is usually enclosed within parentheses or commas).
* To mark off thousands, millions and so on on figures.
* After items them at expresses assent and dissent. E.g Yes, I do.
* Before and after adjectival phrases that start with a participle. E.gIni, having passed the IJMB examination, decided to continue his first degree course.
* Used after connectives (words used to the next sentence to the previous sentence).
* After every group of abbreviations for academic degrees and other honours pertaining to a particular person. E.g Bola Ahmad, B.Sc., B.Tech., M.Sc., Ph.D.
*Using comma is optional when writing a person’s adress. But when used it must be after each lines of the adress except the last line that ends with a full stop.
Semi colon (;) and it’s uses
👉🏾It marks a short pause that a bit longer that comma.
👉🏾 Uses
* To separate the clauses of a compound sentences if either of the clauses has a comma in it.
* To separate clauses which are closely connected in thought, e.g.Reading makes a full man; confidence a ready man; writing an exact man.
* In place of a comma before coordinating conjunctions to emphasize contrast,
e.g.All registered students can attend lectures this month; but as from February, fee defaulters will be barred from attending.
Colon (:) and it’s uses
👉🏾 They mark pauses that are a bit longer than semicolon’s
👉🏾 Uses
* To introduce a formal quotation.
* To introduce list of items.
* To introduce an explanation, a statement or a proposition
e.g The reason for my lateness: I did not get up early today.
Interrogation/question mark (?)
- Used only after direct question
- Not to be used after a request
- Not to be used after indirect question
Exclamation mark/Interjection (!) and it’s uses
- Used to express some heightened emotions of fear, surprise, admiration or happiness,
e.g Ah! The boy is dead.
What a great victory! - To indicate emphasis in writing expressions that are shouted, e.g
Oh, shut up!
Hurry! - To indicate emphasis in expressions denoting cheerfulness, exclamation marks may be doubled or tripled, e.g.
Hip! Hip!! Hip!!! Hurrah!!!
What are clauses
A group of words with a subject and a main verb
What are the two types of clauses
- Main/independent clause
- Subordinate/dependent clause
What’s a main clause
*Contains at least a subject and a verb
*Can stand alone
What’s subordinate clause
*Contains a subject and a verb
*Cannot stand alone
* Begins with a subordinate conjunction (because, although, if, as, since, when, while, until, who, where, wherever, than, that…..)
How to punctuate clauses
*When two main clauses are joined by a coordinating conjunction (and, or, but,…), put a comma before the conjuction.
*If there are two main clauses not connected with conjuction, join with semi-colons, e.g
They came;we left early
*When a subordinate clause come after a main clause, no punctuation is needed.
* When a subordinate clause come before a main clause,place a comma before the main clause, e.g
Although I was away, the team met as scheduled
What are conjuctive adverbs
Adverbs that connect ideas are described as conjunctive adverbs. A list is provided below.
accordingly, also, besides, consequently, conversely, finally, furthermore, hence, however, indeed, instead, likewise, meanwhile, moreover, nevertheless, next, nonetheless, otherwise, similarly, still, subsequently, then, therefore, thus
What are phrases
They’re groups of words that work together as a unit within a sentence, but they lack a subject, a verb, or both.
*They also express a complete thought.
👉🏾They’re usually named for first grammatical element like,
*Prepositional phrases: in the software, on the desktop, of the designer, with the customer *Verbal phrases: to run the program, going at top speed, conceived by the designer *Adverbial phrases: before distribution, after development, during the design phase.
How to punctuate phrases
*If it comes before the subject of a main clause, place a comma after it
*If it comes after the subject, verb or a complete cause; a comma is not necessary,
*But when a verbal phrase that’s in the present participle (verb + ing ) comes after a complete clause, a comma should come before the phrase.
What’s an adjectival/relative clause
Qualify nouns or noun phrases in sentences and begin with relative pronouns such as who, whom, which, that
Are embedded in another clause
Types of adjectival/relative clause
They are of two types:
*restrictive adjectival/relative clause,
*and nonrestrictive adjectival/relative clause
What’s a restrictive adjectival clause
Restrictive relative clauses provide essential information about the subject or define the subject, e.g
Team leaders who lack patience intimidate new members. (Not all team leaders lack patience.)
What’s a nonrestrictive relative/adjectival clause
Nonrestrictive relative clauses provide additional information that is not essential to the meaning, e.g
The replacement part, which was promised for two weeks, was finally shipped yesterday.
=The replacement part was finally shipped yesterday
Punctuating inserted informations
👉🏾Commas, parentheses, or dashes separate inserted information from the rest of the sentence.
* Commas suggest minor interruptions. Jill Smith, e.g
President of MBI, will visit the site next week.
*Parentheses often indicate optional information and clarifications, e.g
Some organisms live in an anaerobic (airless) environment.
*Parentheses are also used to enclose numbers or letters, e.g
The procedure involves three basic steps: (1) strip, (2) dip, (3) dry.
*Dashes provide a greater sense of separation or emphasis than commas or parentheses, e.g
All three models – XL,XM, and XN – are in stock.
*Dashes are also used to signal asides (additional informations), e.g
Dashes are effective – if not overused.
Common error, comma splice, and it’s correction
👉🏾Comma splice is an error in which two main/independent clauses are joined by a comma.
👉🏾 To avoid that, you can
*Insert a conjuction between the two main clauses
*Put a full stop after the first one before moving on to the 2nd one, i.e starting a new sentence
*Insert a semicolon between the main clauses, only if their topics are closely related.
